We often find that patients are uncertain about what’s happening with their child’s impacted canine tooth, what this issue really means, how to address it, and why it’s so essential to fix the problem. Rest easy. We understand that discovering your child’s teeth require treatment for proper development can feel a little overwhelming. The good news is that it’s actually a common concern that we can address to ensure a beautiful, healthy smile. Let’s review some details.
What’s A Canine Tooth?
What is your child’s impacted canine tooth? It’s one of four pointed teeth that rest on the side of lateral incisors. Some know these as “vampire teeth.” Unfortunately, it may not erupt through the gum tissue during development, which can negatively affect one’s bite and, subsequently, smile alignment and appearance, speaking, and chewing success.
What To Do?
You need to address your child’s impacted canine tooth (or teeth) to promote a healthy smile that, once treated, can easily remain healthy for the remainder of your child’s life. We can either work with an orthodontist to create a space for the tooth or we may need to rely on a surgical treatment known as “exposure” that will reveal the tooth. We may then use a treatment similar to braces (known as bracketing) to shift the tooth into the position in which is belongs.
How To Begin
We invite you to contact us to schedule a visit. Whether you have already determined that your child’s canine teeth are not erupting, if you are uncertain, or if you are an adult whose canines never erupted, please schedule a visit with us. We will get you started on a path toward excellent oral health.
ABOUT YOUR SANTA ROSA, CA, ORAL SURGEONS:
Combining experience in oral and maxillofacial surgery with a genuine care for their patients’ health and comfort, the team at Santa Rosa Oral Surgery is ready to improve the health and beauty of smiles in the Sonoma County and North Bay area. To schedule a consultation, contact our office by calling 707-545-4625 (Santa Rosa).
